Edmunds Daily
Mazda
September 18, 2009
The latest highlights from Edmunds.com and its blogosphere.
AutoObserver: After Much Ado, U.S. to Get Mazda 2
Three years after its arrival in other markets, the subcompact Mazda 2 will finally make its way tp this side of the pond. Based on the Ford Fiesta, it has garnered praise and awards since being introduced in 2007.
Inside Line: Full Coverage of 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show
Lots of excitement at Germany's biggest new car show and Inside Line was there to cover it all. Green cars were of course on display, but there were an overwhelming supply of performance cars: Ferrari Italia, Audi R8 Spyder, Aston Martin Rapide, Mercedes SLS and Dodge Caliber. OK, maybe not the last one.
Straightline: Photos of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata
No other automaker makes such great leaps from one generation to the next than Hyundai. While the current Sonata made huge strides in quality, reliability, performance and comfort, the all-new 2011 edition goes even further in those areas while adding an ample supply of style.
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- James Riswick September 18, 2009, 1:00 PM
- Categories:
- Edmunds Roundup, Hyundai, Mazda
August 6, 2009
Ouch, that still hurts! The 2009 Honda Accord sustains $1,507 in rear corner damage -- better than the 2007 Accord.
In new, low-speed crash test results, none of the six midsize sedans tested by the IIHS scored "Good." The 2009 Mazda 6 was judged "Acceptable," the 2009 Hyundai Sonata and 2009 Honda Accord were "Marginal." The 2009 Nissan Maxima, 2010 Ford Fusion, and 2009 Chevrolet Malibu? All rated "Poor."
The 3 and 6 mph tests were designed to see how the cars' bumpers protect fenders, headlights, trunks, grilles and other parts from costly damage. The lowest estimated repair cost from the test was $742 on the front of the Mazda 6; the highest was $3,494 on the rear of the Chevy Malibu. Repair costs are influenced by both the price of replacement parts and the complexity of repairs.
"Consumers buy midsize cars for practical reasons. There's nothing practical about a $1,000-plus repair bill after a minor bump in commuter traffic," says Joe Nolan, Institute senior vice president.
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- Joanne Helperin August 6, 2009, 10:25 AM
- Categories:
- Automotive Consumer News, Car Maintenance, Car Safety, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Nissan
- Technorati Tags:
- Bumper Test, Crash Test, Honda Accord, IIHS, Midsize Sedans
June 15, 2009
Welcome to the first round of the Face-Off Tournament featuring the hot hatches of 2009.
In weekend action, the Chevrolet Cobalt SS defeated the Dodge Caliber SRT-4 because nobody wanted to defend the Dodge. Believe us, we tried to find someone, anyone. The Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V didn't earn any support either, so that was a cake-walk for the Honda Civic Si in the Non-Turbo Japanese Conference. Sorry, but battles from now on won't be so easy.
Today's Face-Off Tournament round comes from the Eastern Division and specifically the Turbo Japanese Conference. Both cars are indeed hatches and both have turbochargers, but one is all-wheel-drive and the other shunts its ample power to only the front axle. Vice Admiral of Vehicle Testing Mike Magrath carries the flag for the 2009 Mazda Mazdaspeed 3 by Mazda, a car that has beaten its competitor in two-straight Inside Line comparison tests (Round 1 and Round 2). Nevertheless, the Subaru Impreza WRX found a fan in Associate Editor Mark Takahashi, who will seek to find favor with you, the judges on this Tournament jury.
Remember, your votes determine who moves on to the Eastern Division final to take on the Honda Civic Si. Now, let's get it on!
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- James Riswick June 15, 2009, 8:00 AM
- Categories:
- Face-Off, Mazda
June 3, 2009
With stability control mandatory for all cars by model year 2012, manufacturers are also required by the government to ramp up the stability-control content of their fleets in the intervening years. The rule for 2009 is that 55% of the cars produced by each automaker must have standard stability control. But not just any stability-control system will do -- each model's system must pass a federal test by negotiating an emergency avoidance maneuver within certain parameters.
As Mazda's volume-selling four-door, the 2009 MAZDA3 was supposed to count toward that 55% figure, but the 3's stability control didn't pass the test. That's why 7,100 2009 MAZDA3 units are being recalled for an ECU reflash. It's not a big deal -- your Mazda dealer will simply upload the revised stability-control software to your 3, and you're done.
The recall is designated number 5509E. Owners can call Mazda at 1-800-222-5500 to see if their cars are eligible for the reflash.
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor
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- Josh Sadlier June 3, 2009, 10:50 AM
- Categories:
- Car Safety, Mazda
May 26, 2009
Older car buyers are a diverse bunch. Still, there are certain themes that reveal themselves when analyzing their needs. These themes tend to be dictated by the physical challenges that many face in their golden years.
The choices listed in our top 10 vehicles for seniors stand out for the skill with which they address these themes.
Our mix of vehicles covers all the bases. There's a minivan for seniors who need extra passenger capacity, and there are compact cars for those who appreciate the parking convenience that smaller vehicles provide. Our list also includes technology-laden luxury cars, a couple of spacious full-size sedans and an innovative SUV.
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- Warren Clarke May 26, 2009, 11:00 AM
- Categories:
- Audi, Automotive Technology, BMW, Car Buying, Car Safety, Honda, Hybrids and Alternative Fuels, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Tuesday's Top 10 List, Volvo
- Technorati Tags:
- car buying advice, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Seniors, Toyota
May 21, 2009
The Mazda6 was redesigned for the 2009 model year, offering contemporary styling and more space, while maintaining its reputation for sportiness and affordability. It was this combination that helped it achieve victory over the more powerful VW CC in a recent Inside Line comparison test. If the Mazda6 has what you are looking for, hit the jump to see what incentives are available and what kind of deal you might be able to wrangle one for.
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- Lee Scott May 21, 2009, 3:00 AM
- Categories:
- Deal of the Week, Mazda
- Technorati Tags:
- Customer Cash, Deal of the Week, Dealer Cash, Incentives and Rebates, Mazda6, TMV
May 19, 2009
2009 Ford Ranger
You may need the utility offered by a pickup, but that doesn't mean you have to completely forsake fuel-efficiency. These days, there are more compact and hybrid trucks available than ever before -- a development that spells good things for those seeking trucks that will help them mind their finances at the pump.
These 10 choices are the most fuel-efficient pickups on the market.
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- Warren Clarke May 19, 2009, 11:00 AM
- Categories:
- Car Buying, Chevrolet, Dodge, Fuel Economy, GMC, General Motors, Mazda, Toyota, Tuesday's Top 10 List
- Technorati Tags:
- Fuel Saving, Hybrids, Pickup, Trucks
April 21, 2009
The 2010 Mazda 3 was launched just last month, but already a recall has been issued. The recall affects 25,400 vehicles and concerns a potential clearance problem between the engine harness and the housing of the starter; this problem may cause short-circuiting that could result in stalling, engine restart difficulties and/or poor shift quality.
Dealers will inspect the harness and add a protector clip to the affected section, and if necessary, the harness will be repaired. The recall is expected to begin on May 6.
The recall number is 5409D. Owners may get in touch with Mazda at 1-800-222-5500 for more information.
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- Warren Clarke April 21, 2009, 11:51 AM
- Categories:
- Automotive Consumer News, Mazda
- Technorati Tags:
- Mazda 3, Recalls
April 17, 2009
It's always bugged me that the current-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata hasn't been available in turbocharged Mazdaspeed trim. But the weekend I spent recently in the revamped 2009 MX-5 Miata Grand Touring was a lot more fun than I'd anticipated. Here's three random observations, because that's how I do.
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- Josh Sadlier April 17, 2009, 3:00 AM
- Categories:
- Car Buying, Mazda, Weekly Top 3
Thule, an aftermarket supplier, has issued a recall on 2,323 of its owner-installed roof-mounted kits designed for use on Mazda and Subaru vehicles. The models affected include the 2008-2009 Subaru Impreza WRX and WRX STI, and the 2004-2009 Mazda3.
Apparently, the roof rack and load can become loose when driving due to a potentially defective bolt. There have been no mishaps reported in North America to date, but Thule Sweden has reported seven instances of bolt failure in Europe.
Full details are included in our Inside Line news story and in Thule's safety recall notice.
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- Warren Clarke April 17, 2009, 2:20 AM
- Categories:
- Mazda
- Technorati Tags:
- Mazda, Recalls, subaru, Thule
March 25, 2009
Thinking about anything that happened to me as occurring "20 years ago" is still a difficult concept to wrap my youngin' head around. But 20 years ago, my father hung a full newspaper page ad on the side of our pistachio green Kitchenaid refrigerator. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" it said and there was a picture of the brand new 1990 Mazda Miata. See, my dad had to sell his purple 1973 MGB in order to buy a house, and a decade-plus later, the Miata was a chance to return to his roadster ways. A few months later, we cleared space in the garage for a red Miata.
Dad didn't drive it much, it was simply a weekend toy. Six years and only 7,000 km later, we moved from Toronto to Indianapolis. When he went to plate the Miata, the horrible news came that we couldn't keep it. See, Miatas in Canada didn't have the driver airbag mandated in the United States. According to whoever at whatever agency, we'd have to install an airbag and subject the Miata to a front-end crash test in order to keep it. Thanks a lot, jerk. After a one-year swan song, the Miata got shipped back to the Great White North where we sold it for a pittance. My dad's roadstering ways were ended once again.
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- James Riswick March 25, 2009, 3:00 AM
- Categories:
- BMW, Mazda, Thoughts from the Curb
February 27, 2009
According to papers filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, Mazda is recalling 30,600 of its CX-9 SUVs. Models affected are 2007-2009 CX-9s with power seats and memory function. The seat harness under the cushion may short circuit, which could cause the seat to move uncontrollably, creating a serious driving hazard. (Think of your seat reclining all the way back while you're on the highway.)
Mazda dealers will fix the seat free of charge. The recall letters are expected to go out to owners on or before March 9, 2009. Owners can contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500.
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- Joanne Helperin February 27, 2009, 11:40 AM
- Categories:
- Automotive Consumer News, Car Safety, Mazda
- Technorati Tags:
- Car Safety, Mazda, Mazda CX-9, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, Vehicle Recall
